Glossing It Up

The summer of our discontent is over.

by Brian Howard

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

The summer of our discontent is over. So long, blast-furnace afternoons; welcome back, WFC-caliber Phillies. The beginning of autumn is about the time of year we like to tell you what to do. This week's paper is our annual Fall Arts bonanza, overflowing with features on the artists and events that will shape this year's season (check Holly Otterbein's profile on doomsday burlesquers Swellco & Swellco, Peter Crimmins' take on the "Art of the American Soldier" exhibit and Julia Askenase's look at local-ish lights The Walkmen).

But that's not the only guide we've got on offer. This week ushers the third annual City Paper Primer, a glossy little number spearheaded editorially by CP minister of moving parts Carolyn Huckabay, snapped by photog wunderkind Neal Santos and made all flash-and-dashy by BAJ Design. Primer was conceived as a tuck-it-in-your-tote/plant-it-on-your-coffee-table resource for newbies (hello students/houseguests/carpetbaggers), though we shoot to make it useful for Philadelphians of all vintage. The first half tackles the finer points of city living; the second is a neighborhood smorgasbord with the straight dope on what to do wherever you are.

"Putting together this year's Primer was like moving to Philly all over again," says Carolyn. "When I first got here in 2006, I was blown away by the amount of stuff there was to do — I think it took me a year to feel like I'd conquered my own little neighborhood. In the Primer, we've covered 19 of them — everywhere from Chestnut Hill and Fishtown to East Passyunk and Southwest Philly."

According to CP news editor Jeffrey C. Billman, who'll celebrate one year in the city this month, "For me and [my wife] Adri, [last year's Primer] was really an indispensable cheat sheet. For the first six months we were here, that thing was basically our bible."

Look for it, and its gorgeous Stephen Powers cover mural, at colleges, gyms, apartment buildings, hospitals, hotels, coffee shops, bars and more. (More at citypaper.net/primer.)

And on the subject of guides, it's my pleasure to introduce Josh Middleton as the newest member of the City Paper team. Josh, a Temple grad with the best Kentucky accent, is a former intrepid intern and authors our monthly "Queer Bait" column. As our new editorial assistant, he'll be tackling our calendar listings with his trademark charm and panache. E-mail him at joshua.middleton@citypaper.net.

(bhoward@citypaper.net)